ForumIAS announcing GS Foundation Program for UPSC CSE 2025-26 from 27th May. Click Here for more information.
Indo-Pacific can be broadly understood as an interconnected space between the Indian and the Pacific Ocean. Its expanse is debated to be ranging from the eastern shores of Africa to the western coast of the United States.
India’s policy delineates concerns to bring about a rules-based order characterized by freedom of navigation and settlement of disputes through dialogue. The policy also focuses upon the Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) approach.
Indo-Pacific is strategically important to India.
All the current updates regarding Indo-Pacific are listed here.
Section last updated on 15th Feb 22
Evolving security architecture in Indo-Pacific – last updated on 7th Jan 22
“Japan-Australia defence agreement signals that middle powers are willing to play a more active role in the Indo-Pacific” – The Indian Express – 7th Jan 22
After the Second World War, security order in Asia and the Indo-Pacific was marked by the US’s bilateral ties with various players, while in Europe, regional groupings like NATO played a key role.
However, this has been changing recently due to the rise of an assertive China.
The following positive developments are leading to a more empowered and committed regional strategic network –
– The region has seen the formation of many regional groupings and bilateral initiatives like Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (or the Quad, with India, Japan, Australia and the US), the AUKUS, and now the RAA.
– Also, recently there has been a greater acceptance of Japan’s role as a strategic player in the region, as countries like Vietnam and the Philippines have started looking towards it for support against Beijing.
These positive developments will lead to a more empowered and committed regional strategic network.
What are the reasons for these changes?
This has been enabled, among other factors, by Australia’s willingness to stand up to China on the question of a free and open Indo-Pacific and rules-based global order, despite their deep economic ties.
India’s Indo-Pacific strategy – last updated on 15th Jan 22
“The significance of the Indo-Pacific for India” – Indian Express – 15th Feb 2022.
How has Indian diplomacy changed?
India is working through two important pillars.
First, strengthening regional and bilateral relations through political interactions, regional groupings like ASEAN.
Second, renewed military diplomacy by encouraging military sales like the sale of the three missile batteries to the Philippines.
How does India need to shape its regional diplomacy further?
India’s decision to walk out of RCEP and emphasis on Atma Nirbhar Bharat raise doubts about a return to the protectionist regime. It needs to liberalize trade relations with strategic partners like Australia.
India has intensified trade talks with the UAE, Israel, and UK. But it needs to focus more on ties to the USA and EU.
In terms of military diplomacy, India needs to strengthen its domestic military production and technological base.
“In 2022, India should keep an eye on Indo-Pacific” Indian Express – 15th Jan 22
First, it should strengthen the Quad and fulfil its commitment to deliver 1 billion vaccine doses to Indo-Pacific nations.
Second, it should strengthen its relationship with Russia.
Third,enhance its cooperation with key Southeast Asian partners like Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Thailand.
Fourth,Higher engagement towards Indian Ocean Island states. This can be done through a clear economic and trade agenda and incentivizing corporate India to make inroads in this region.
While India has done well in fulfilling its humanitarian duties during the pandemic, it should learn to convert these into economic and strategic opportunities in 2022.
“Japan-Australia defence agreement signals that middle powers are willing to play a more active role in the Indo-Pacific” – The Indian Express – 7th Jan 22
What is the way forward for India?
India already has “2+2” ministerial dialogues with both Japan and Australia and has done much to expand bilateral, trilateral and regional cooperation in the security domain.
It must also reach out to other players in the region.
Various agreements, groupings and their impact on Indo-Pacific – 15th Jan 22
“In 2022, India should keep an eye on Indo-Pacific” – Indian Express– 15th Jan 22
What is the role of various groupings in Indo-Pacific?
Quad is the most significant group for strategic partners, The USA, India, Japan and Australia. Military groupings like an AUKUS (Australia, UK, US) have also emerged.
European Union announced its Indo-Pacific strategy, which is aimed at increasing its economic and security profile in the region. The policy needs to be more strategic and less mercantilist, more candid and assertive with China, and more cooperative with partners like India.
ASEAN is facing Chinese pressure and aggression. Its unity is under stress. President Biden’s meeting with ASEAN members can help in bringing a sense of security.
BRICS – given India China’s hostility, a visit of the Indian Prime Minister to China is an unlikely prospect to solve any purpose.
G7 – to be held in Germany will have to assess the progress made by the “build back better world “initiative.
G20- to be held in Indonesia will test the depth of Indonesian diplomacy.
What more can be done by Japan?
Japan needs to announce a bold national security strategy. It should double its defence budget. It should make an effort to amend article 9 and expand military cooperation with the USA.
“Japan-Australia defence agreement signals that middle powers are willing to play a more active role in the Indo-Pacific” – The Indian Express – 7th Jan 22
Japan-Australia defence agreement
Australia and Japan recently signed a defence treaty called the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) which has a great strategic significance for Asia and the Indo-Pacific.
Significance: It marks the move away from a US-centric outlook towards a greater focus on bilateral ties and regional groupings.
It is also a sign that Japan is willing to play a more proactive role in the region. Tokyo is trying to seek RAA-like agreements with the UK and France as well.
It provides the middle powers like Japan, Australia, India to expand their cooperation and build on the momentum created by the Quad.
It has generated some predictable negative reaction from China.
The agreement further cements the trends that are part of the changing security architecture in the region.
Countering China’s rise in Indo-Pacific – 5th Jan 22
Efforts by the USA
“The bottom line in Blinken’s foray into Southeast Asia” – The Hindu – 5th Jan 22
Both China and the U.S. are trying to attract the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) countries to their side. The US wants to overcome the Chinese domination in the ASEAN by pitching the issue of ASEAN Centrality and by countering China’s aggressive rise.
How the US is employing the ASEAN centrality tactics to attract South Asian nations?
In his speech at Universitas Indonesia on December 14, Mr. Blinken laid out the five core principles shaping the American strategy of a free and open Indo-Pacific. Alongside, he also underlined the mechanisms that the U.S. is adopting to implement these core principles.
He also stressed the following concerns made by ASEAN nations about China’s aggressive actions. For example,
-Claiming open seas as their own,
-Distorting open markets through subsidies to its state-run companies,
-Denying the exports or revoking deals for countries whose policies it does not agree with,
-Engaging in illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activities.
How the US is trying to counter China’s rise directly in the Indo-Pacific?
The US is trying to counter China mainly in two areas. One is the South China Sea and the second is the investment in the infrastructure development of Southeast Asian countries.
1. South China Sea
The U.S. has continued its Freedom of Navigation Operations in the disputed waters of the South China Sea to challenge unlawful maritime claims by China.
The US has also brought up the 2016 international tribunal ruling which had rejected the Chinese nine-dash-line claims.
2. Infrastructure development
Through infrastructural investments under its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has attracted many ASEAN nations. For instance, Chinese investments have driven countries such as Cambodia and Laos to do China’s bidding in the ASEAN, even at the cost of compromising ASEAN’s unity.
To counter this, the US has reiterated that it remains committed to closing the infrastructure gap.
The US has pointed out that the members of the Quad (Australia, India, Japan, and the U.S.) have provided more than $48 billion in government-backed financing for infrastructure for the region.
Further, the U. S is promising to do more under the Build Back Better World initiative and the Blue Dot Network.
The U.S. is also trying to showcase a comprehensive economic framework in the Indo-Pacific.
What is the way forward?
Providing proper alternative models of investments for development in sectors such as infrastructure, digital economy, supply chain, and health for the Southeast Asian nations will be critical.
The economic framework, investment plans, and promises outlined by Mr. Blinken need to be made operational quickly if the US is to show that it is indeed serious about sustained commitment toward the Indo-Pacific.
USA recently released its policy document on Indo-Pacific.
“The significance of the Indo-Pacific for India” – Indian Express – 15th Feb 2022.
What does the recent USA document say about India?
The USA seeks free and open, connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient in Indo-Pacific. It says that it cannot accomplish it alone and needs the cooperation of other countries that share a similar vision.
USA seeks to work with India through regional groupings to promote stability in South Asia; collaborate in new domains like health, space, cyberspace, and deepen economic and technology cooperation.
How USA strategy is different from the past?
Earlier, USA worked bilaterally and through military alliances. Now the USA is encouraging allies and partners to strengthen their ties with one another. The USA is ready for more networked regional architecture.
